good day all, The 2015 prize is on the way to Jejima. So it's time for the once-a-year invite to the easiest picking (guessing) sumo game ever. No need for daily picks, no need for pre-basho picks; just a pair of picks will last a whole year!

Here's how it works. The symbolic TORCH starts with the last rikishi and last rank on the 2016 HATSU BANZUKE (rikishi/rank at the bottom of jonokuchi). If the rikishi wins his bout (called a TORCH MATCH), he keeps the TORCH. If he loses, the TORCH is passed to the winner. Through the year, the TORCH will eventually make way up the banzuke as it is always passed to the winner. The object of the game is to pick the one rank and one rikishi you think will end up with the most points throughout the year's six bashos. Points are awarded to every rikishi and rank involved in a TORCH MATCH; and to players who finish closest to the final TORCH position at the end of the year.

FINAL TORCH POINTS AT THE END OF THE 2016 KYUSHU BASHO: 25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rikishi. 25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rank. PLUS... 10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rikishi. 10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rank. 9 points to the 2nd closest picks. 8 points to the 3rd closest picks. 7 points to the 4th closest picks. 6 points to the 5th closest picks. 5 points to the 6th closest picks. 4 points to the 7th closest picks. 3 points to the 8th closest picks. 2 points to the 9th closest picks. 1 point to the 10th closest picks.(so if my math is correct, a minimum of 110 points (55 rank/55 rikishi) are guaranteed to be handed out at the end of the year)

To play, please submit: 1) the rikishi you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2015 Kyushu Basho. and 2) the rank you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2015 Kyushu Basho.

The deadline for entries is one minute before the first TORCH MATCH starts... JST. Send new entries or updated entries to shimodahito(at)yahoo.com, by message on tipspiel, or post on this sonstige Spiele thread. For 2015 players who miss the deadline, your 2015 picks will carry over to TORCHBEARER 2016 (as long as your rikishi pick is still active).

A "wildcard" drone pick, by default will be the lowest rikishi and rank on the HATSU BANZUKE.

Good luck! The game is painless...one rank pick, one rikishi pick... no daily picks needed…. And a prize.

Good day all, The TORCH GAME starts when the bottom rikishi/rank (this year is NODAGASHIRA JONOKUCHI 23 EAST) has his first match. This year it will be Day 1. 43 entries so far. still a few hours. so easy to enter and nothing to track or update the whole year. and a prize.

DAY 1: Jonokuchi 23 East Nodagashira defeated Jonokuchi 22 West Hattorizakura. DAY 3: Jonokuchi 23 East Nodagashira passed the TORCH to Jonokuchi 21 West Bandaisan.

and the....

TORCH MATCH ON HATSU DAY 5!

RIKISHIBANDAISAN vs KOTOKAMATANI

RANKJONOKUCHI 21 WEST vs JONOKUCHI 20 EAST

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI.a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI.a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

good day all, The two leaders are seeing how far they can go with a jonokuchi rikishi pick:

TORCH MATCH ON HATSU DAY 10!

RIKISHIKOTOKAMATANI vs TOMIYAMA

RANKJONOKUCHI 20 EAST vs JONOKUCHI 5 WEST

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI.a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI.a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

good day all, Could the TORCH, for the first time ever, jump to Jonidan during the basho?

TORCH MATCH ON HATSU DAY 13!

RIKISHIKOTOKAMATANI vs HAYATERANKJONOKUCHI 20 EAST vs JONIDAN 97 WEST

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI.a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

good day, Two players take a chance on guessing a Jonokuchi ranked rikishi to get some TORCH points early. This has proved successful and unsuccessful in previous years for players; but has never provided enough points to win at the end of the year. 2016 could be different.

Here is a recap of the TORCH journey during the Hatsu basho:start-of-TORCH 2016 rank: JONOKUCHI 23 EASTstart-of-TORCH 2016 rikishi: NODAGASHIRA

good day all, start-of-haru-rikishi: KOTOKAMATANI start-of-haru-rank: JONIDAN 10 EAST

TORCH MATCH ON HARU DAY 2!

RIKISHI KOTOKAMATANI vs TOSEIMA

RANK JONIDAN 10 EAST vs JONIDAN 10 WEST

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI. a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI. a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKMATANI. a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

good day all, With co-leaders at 24 points, it will take more than just ending the year with a TORCH pick to defeat them. This is the first time in TORCHBEARER history there has been such a quick start. Usually the gamble to pick a jonokuchi rikishi does not produce points.

TORCH MATCH ON HARU DAY 8!

RIKISHI KOTOKAMATANI vs HOKUYOZAN

RANK JONIDAN 10 EAST vs JONIDAN 13 EAST

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI. a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Player(s) up for points:kuroimori's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI.Naganoyama's rikishi pick is KOTOKAMATANI. a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

Good day all, Only time will tell if the risky Jonokuchi picking will pay off for our co-leaders. There is plenty of time for anyone to win the prize. I never did establish tie-breaker rules because all point leaders at the end of the year would get a prize. However, for the purpose of having a "yusho" winner, perhaps playoff, tie-breaker rules are a good suggestion. I will ponder some options for tie-breaker rules over the break.

In the meantime, here is a recap of the TORCH journey during the Haru basho:start-of-Haru TORCH rank: JONIDAN 10 EASTstart-of-Haru TORCH rikishi: KOTOKAMATANI

good day all, This was a rare carry-through basho as the TORCH ended where it started. Our co-leaders' rikishi pick, Kotokamatani, had a good ride and was set to play in a TORCH match on Day 9 but the same-heya rule forced the line up to be shuffled. I think most TORCH players don't think the co-leaders need any more points.